currency

[carrowcrin]

What is the best advise as obtaining currency for a trip to Morocco, i will be arriving to Malaga airport and travelling to Tangiers on the same day so i will not have much time.
Any advise greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

[Devils Advocate]

Hi, we've only ever been on the weekend trips but have always used Euros........may be different if you're going for a longer stay, however they were accepted everywhere, even welcomed everywhere.

Just once we'd booked a trip to a local market and decided we needed some dhirams (or whatever they are ) and got them at the hotel reception at a fair rate.

[Devils Advocate]

OH, just reminded me.....at Asilah market we got a better deal on the stuff we were buying when the guy realised I had £ sterling on me

[Campo Steve]

Euros are widely accepted. The current exchange rate is approximately 11 dirhams to the euro. In shops, bars, markets etc last month they seemed to use a rate of about 10 to the euro (although it was Ramadan when we were there and most bars were closed). Change is often given in dirhams at the same rate.

If you want dirhams there are ATM's there. Don't withdraw too much as I don't think you are supposed to take any out of the country. You could maybe check with your bank to see what rate they would give at the ATM and add on their charges and compare that to using Euros.

[WomBatt]

You cannot convert before you go and you ought not to export, as it is illegal, but barely reinforced (i.e. do not upset officialdom upon exit).

[detourer]

What did you do last month Carrowcrin when you were there?

Am in Morocco at moment and exchange rate is 10.82. Exchange at port or just about anywhere else. ATM's all over the place as are banks.

We go in and out every month with many 1000's of Dhm's and have never been stopped or questioned.

PS........VERY HOT at the moment........35plus when we were in the north but now well over 40 in the south [Er Rachidia]. I hear Marrakech [will be there next week] is roasting
..

[carrowcrin]

Thanks for replies, the last time i was over i just bought currency in hotels, i was not aware that it was not possible to buy "the dirham" in Europe but i suppose it is logical enough considering it is a different continent.
I was hoping to be more prepared this time..

[lis48]

Just a suggestion; make sure you take take euros/pounds in small notes/coins.
You can then buy something small like a bottle of water with a small note. You always get dirhams back in change for other purchases.

[carrowcrin]

Hi Liz

Thanks for the good tip as in the past i have often been left with bills no smaller than €50s and when people see large bills it automatically brings attention.

[detourer]

It is very unlikly that you could get a bottle of water useing a 5 pound/euro note and get change back in Dhm......or if you did what do you think the exchange rate would work out at

Why all the hassle? Just get correct level of exchange rate at an officual outlet and ASK for small notes and coins!

And yes, it IS possible to get Dhm in Europe

Mid 40's and going up here at Er Chebbie

..

[Campo Steve]

A few weeks ago we had no problem getting a bottle of water with a 5 euro note. ChNge came dock in dirhams, exchange rate they used was 1Euro to 10 Dirhams. Easy enough to work out. Do agree, however, that small notes are better than large.

[carrowcrin]

detourer,

And yes, it IS possible to get Dhm in Europe

Do you know where as this was the reason for original post as i would prefer to do this?

Thanks

[lis48]

The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency and the banks in Spàin told me they couldn´t get it. Be careful that you are not looking at other dirhams such as UAE etc. which happened to a friend of mine who ordered dirhams for the wrong country from her bank!
It would be good to know if detourer knows otherwise. You can excange at the money sellers/banks/ATMs on the Tangiers side of the port but in my experience they only give you 100 /200 dirhams notes which are very difficult to change in the market for small items. You can not of course officially take dirhams out of Morocco either except very small amounts or it will be confiscated at the border if found.
The marketeers in my experience refuse euro coins as they can not change them in the banks. Hence my solution is to have about twenty €5 notes depending on length of stay which has always worked for me in both the restaurants and markets. It´s easy to work out the approx price in euros as they operate on 10 to 1 and to hand over the appropriate number of notes. The change is given in dirhams coins. It´s also good for bargaining as the traders will get a better exchange rate at the bank than 10 to 1 once they have accumulated a lot of notes.
Of course if you are coming from the UK, do the same in 5 pound notes as it makes no sense to exchange twice.
Oh .... and you can just bring the euros/pounds not used home with you so no worry about how much money you will need!